Large explosion at Iranian military base kills 17

[News_Editor]

Large explosion at Iranian military base kills 17

2011-11-13 06:14:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least 17 soldiers were killed on early Saturday afternoon when a huge explosion rocked a military base near the Iranian capital of Tehran, officials said. Several others were seriously injured.

The blast happened at around 1 p.m. local time when ammunition was being transported at the Imam Ali military base in Bidgeneh village, which is located about 35 kilometers (21 miles) west of Tehran. Buildings in the area were damaged, and the blast could be heard in Tehran, Shahryar city and other locations in the region.

It was not immediately known what sort of ammunition was involved in the explosion, which sent large plumes of smoke into the air. Officials rejected claims by some foreign media organizations that it was the result of a nuclear experiment.

General Ramadan Sharif, a spokesman for the Iranian military, said at least 17 Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) soldiers were killed while more than a dozen others were seriously injured. Earlier reports had placed the number of fatalities at 27.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known.

In October 2010, at least 18 Iranian soldiers were killed and 14 others were injured when a similar explosion happened at the Imam Ali military base in the western part of the country. Officials said the explosion was an accident, resulting from a fire which spread to a munitions depot.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-13

[Steely Dan]

Whoops, own goal.

http://www.debka.com/article/21474/

Brig. Hassan Moghadam, head of Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) missile development and sections of its nuclear program, was killed in one of the two consecutive explosions that hit two IRGC bases 46 kilometers west of Tehran Saturday, Nov. 12. The official fatality figure is 32. Fourteen hours after explosions blasts could still be heard and fires raged.